Improvement in car-couplings



E. LEWIS.

"Gar-Coupling.

No, 167,454, Patented Sept. 7,1875.

Wdf/MLYJ 6J dMAM/Mu mmm/ 75 @66 x 75 EDWARD LEWIS, or novnn, DELAWARE, 7

IMPRQVEMENTIN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 161415 1, datedSeptemberj, 1575; application filed r July 30,1875. .v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD Lnwrs, of Dover, in the county of Kent andState of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRailroad-Oar Couplings; and that the following is a full, clear, andexact description of the construction and operation of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of thisspecification, in which Figure 1 represents my car-coupling inperspective. Fig. 2 represents the same in longitndinal verticalsection, with the couplingpin in position for coupling. Fig. 3represents two of my car-couplings in longitudinal vertical section,with the coupling-pin. in different positions. Fig. 4 represents atransverse vertical section through the car-coupling.

Similar letters of reference, where they occur, denote like parts in allthe figures.

My invention relates to the mannerin which the coupling-pin is guided inits motions up or down by small pins or projections attached to, orformed on,tw0 ot'its sides near its top, slidinto grooves cut in theinterior of the bufferhead, said grooves and coupling-pins being of apeculiar form, so as to allow the car-con plin g to be self couplingwhen it is so desired, and to prevent the coupling-pin riding up and outof the link when the cars are in motion;

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, Iwillproceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings.

A represents the frame of a bufi'er-head containing my improvements. Itis extended upward atA,so as to incase and guide the coupling'pin B.This pin is made rectangular in form, with its point forming an obtuseV, so as to ride easily over the link 0 when the latter is introducedthrough the funnel'opening 0 of the draw-head Ainto the chamber (1formed in the draw-head to receive the link 0. The chamber (1 isenlarged in the rear more than at the entrance, so as to accommodate thelink 0 of cars of difierent heights. The coupling-pin B is provided withpins or projections b that enter grooves a recessed out of the groove 6formed in the middle of the draw-head to allow the coupling-pin B tooperate. This coupling-pin has at its upper end a staple or hole, atWhich point is attached a rope or chain, f, that extends so as to beeasily operated by the brakeman from the platform, or from the roof ofhe car, or from the side of the car, by a pivoted lever, to one end ofwhich the rope f can be attached. The groove a is formed so that itsfront edge is vertical, or nearly so, but the upper portion is enlargedin the rear, so as to form a shoulder, g, to receive the pin b, andsupport the coupling-pin B in proper position to be operated by the link0. The opening 0, inclosing the coupling-pin B, is pr tly closed by aplate or bars, h, bolted or riveted on the -top of the draw -head, sothat the coupling-pin cannot be easily removed or lost; but, it itshould get broken, a new one could be introduced by using ordinary toolsfor the purpose. The forward part of the groove 6 is cut verticallyintwo parallel planes, but with an angle or curve at @130 prevent thecoupling-pin B riding up and out of the coupling-link 0 when the carsare in motion. The groove 0 is cut back of the vertical grooves a asuflicient distance to allow the couplingpin B, when down, to revolveone-quarter of a circle, so that if a car carrying a coupling-link, asshown on the right side of Fig. 3, should be backed against anotherhaving its couplingpin down, the coupling-pin will swing up out of theway of the coupling-link, and not latch with it, the concussion beingborne by the butter-heads.

When it is desired to couple two cars together, (one of them carryingthe coupling-link,) the coupling-pin B of the other 'bein g raised bymeans of the rope or chainf until the pins b rest on the shoulders g ofthe grooves a, the rope or chain, and with it the head of theemailing-pin B, being drawn slightly backward, as shown in Fig. 2, thecoupling-link, in entering the chamber 01, strikes the beveled end ofthe pin B, and throws its supportingpins b off the shoulders g, allowingit to de scend inside of the coupling-link, and retain it fast to thedraw-head. When it is desired to unconple the cars, the coupling-pin israised, by means of the rope or chain, to the position shown in Fig. 2,where it will generally remain after the removal of the link.

By making the angular projection is movable in the form of a triangularbolt connected with the draw-head, and retained in position by a spring,k, as shown by dotted lines int-be drawings, the chamber ecan beenlarged at the will of the brakeman, so as to allow the pin B to becoupled with the link 0 even after the latter has entered the chamber01.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. Thecombination of the grooves a and shoulders g, formed into an elevatedextension,

A, of the draw-head A, with the pins b of the coupling-pin B, and plateh to retain the coupling-pin in position, substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. The combination of the groove 6, having its forward end recessed ati, and itsrear por-

